Oyebanji Gifts Ekiti-Born Africa Spelling Bee Champion, Coach, School N8m

*To sponsor the winner in China for the World Championship

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has gifted Ekiti-born Miss Adeolu Oluwadamilola, who recently emerged winner of the Africa Spelling Bee competition, her coach and her school, St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Ado Ekiti cash gifts worth N8 million.

The Governor also pledged to sponsor the African Spelling Bee champion, along with her mother and coach, for the world championships to be held in China later this year.

Speaking while receiving Adeolu, the African spelling champion, his mother, Mrs. Oluwabunmi Adeolu; The owner of the school, Lawrence Oluwafemi, and his coach, Mrs Esther Omolayo, in his office in Ado Ekiti on Monday, Governor Oyebanji said his administration remains committed to prioritizing education as a central pillar of development.

Commending Miss Oluwadamilola for bringing honor to Ekiti State and Nigeria, the Governor described her achievement as a reflection of the State’s long tradition of academic excellence. He added that the feat highlights the value of diligence, discipline and excellence for which the Ekiti people are widely known.

Speaking further, the Governor explained that since the inception of his administration, deliberate efforts have been made to reposition the education sector through strategic investments in infrastructure, teacher capacity building, provision of instructional materials and policies aimed at improving the quality of teaching and learning across the State.

He added that his administration has ensured a deliberate balance between what is taught, how it is taught and where it is taught, adding that concerted efforts are being made to align the curriculum with the demands and realities of the 21st century.

Congratulating the African spelling champion for the feat, the Governor said his Government will continue to support and reward excellence in all sectors, particularly education, to encourage students and teachers to strive for better results and uphold the State’s reputation as a center of academic distinction.

The Governor urged students across the State to remain focused on their studies, stressing that hard work, determination and discipline remain the surest path to success, while assuring that the government will continue to create an enabling environment for them to thrive.

“Damilola has once again demonstrated what the people of Ekiti are known for, diligence, hard work, honor and excellence and I am very proud of her. As a government, over the last three and a half years, we have done everything humanly possible to reposition the education sector in Ekiti State from primary, secondary to tertiary education system and we are also looking at informal education”

“Our strategy is to ensure that we strike a balance between what is taught, how it is taught and where it is taught because to have the best in that area, the content and curriculum must be alive to meet the needs of the state, the country and the world.

“After conquering Africa, the next step will be to conquer the world, I thought she will go to China to represent Africa, the state will sponsor her, her mother, her coach and two others from the school and as a token of appreciation, the state government will give Damilola two million naira, her coach one million and the school five million naira.” the Governor said

Earlier in his keynote address, the owner of the school, Lawrence Oluwafemi, who commended the education policies of the state government, especially the Governor’s intentional approach to improving the sector, said such commitment has contributed significantly to the recent successes recorded by students across the State

Describing the Governor’s gesture as a strong affirmation of his commitment to rewarding excellence and hard work in the education sector, Lawrence noted that the recognition would further inspire both students and staff of the school to continue to dedicate themselves to academic excellence and discipline.

Spelling Bee Champion, Miss Adeolu Oluwadamilola, expressed her deep gratitude to the Governor for the recognition and support extended to her, especially the plan to sponsor her to China to represent Africa at the upcoming World Spelling Been competition. He described the gesture as motivation to aim higher.